RACING PREVIEW: MASTERCRAFTSMAN will attempt to translate his impeccable Curragh form to Royal Ascot tomorrow when he leads a strong Irish assault on the festival's opening day feature, the St James's Palace Stakes.

The Irish 2,000 Guineas winner heads a trio of Aidan O’Brien-trained runners as the champion trainer pursues a sixth win in the Group One race in 10 years.

Johnny Murtagh again teams up with Mastercraftsman, leaving Colm O’Donoghue on Born To Be King and Séamus Heffernan riding Set Sail. Jim Bolger will be represented by his Dewhurst Stakes winner Intense Focus.

Despite a six-strong home team headed by the Guineas runner-up Delegator, Paddy Power have installed Mastercraftsman as 4 to 5 favourite to score a fourth career Group One victory tomorrow.

To do so, however, the Danehill Dancer colt will have to win for the first time away from the Curragh. Mastercraftsman is unbeaten in five starts at headquarters but his two starts out of Ireland have resulted in defeats.

A fourth to Naqoos in last year’s Prix Jean-Luc Lagadere at Longchamp was followed by a fifth to Sea The Stars in the Newmarket Guineas after which he picked up his Classic success last month.

Willie Mullins gives the four-year-old Coffee Tea Or Me a first start over fences in the Beginners Chase at Ballinrobe this evening but it could be another first-timer over fences, Top Mark, who emerges best.

Barry Geraghty teams up with the seven-year-old for trainer Gordon Elliott and quick ground should not be a problem for a versatile sort who won over hurdles at Perth in April.

Top Markalso looks a more straight-forward sort than his Mullins-trained rival who has looked a difficult ride more than once over hurdles.

Hollow Ranger returns to Ballinrobe for the handicap chase and will be hoping for a better experience than he had at the Co Mayo track last year when a kick from another runner meant his face had to be re-constructed.

Two miles on quick ground seems to be up Hollow Ranger'sstreet even though he will have to clean up his jumping from his last start at Wexford.

All About Timinghas to concede weight all round in the nine-furlong claimer but comes here in form having failed by just a short head behind Salazaar at Roscommon eight days ago.

American Princess is on a hat-trick in the apprentice handicap but better value could be had in these conditions with Sense Of Greeting.